Hey guys.


So i'm having a weird problem when taking photos with the Mavic Air 2. So before I take the photo, on the phone screen everything looks like its properly exposure. But whenever I open the file on my computer, the photos are drastically underexposed(almost 2 stops underexposed). It's as if Im getting a false reading on the screen.  Video wise its fine, its only when taking photos. Anyone else having this problem?

does this happen only on DNG files by any chance?

Does the app have a histogram function like GO 4's? You could use that as a reality check.

You can enable the histogram in camera options in the dji fly app.

Ice_2k Posted at 7-21 07:16
does this happen only on DNG files by any chance?

yes it seems to be dng files are doing it

Ex Machina Posted at 7-21 09:47
Does the app have a histogram function like GO 4's? You could use that as a reality check.

I think it does have a histogram function. But still though, wouldnt the live show the true exposure of the camera

The live view might fool you. You should always check the histogram to be on the safe side. It's also totally normal that the RAW file is a lot less saturated, has less contrast and is overall flat looking. If you shoot in 48MP mode, they are darker than 12MP mode at same ISO and shutter speed. Common quad bayer problem. But that should be visible in live view.

Denny-R Posted at 7-21 10:59
The live view might fool you. You should always check the histogram to be on the safe side. It's also totally normal that the RAW file is a lot less saturated, has less contrast and is overall flat looking. If you shoot in 48MP mode, they are darker than 12MP mode at same ISO and shutter speed. Common quad bayer problem. But that should be visible in live view.

ahh gotcha. I get that Raw photos will look natural flat, but they are just coming out really underexposed. I'll start looking at the histogram for now on

ChamberDrone Posted at 7-21 10:05
yes it seems to be dng files are doing it

I noticed this as well sometimes. The weird thing is that some programs (viewers mostly) show the image correctly but when opening it in a full fledged editor like Lightroom, they sometimes turn dark like they had some “auto editing” applied and Lightroom removed it. Funny thing is that it doesn’t always happen.

Ice_2k Posted at 7-21 13:47
I noticed this as well sometimes. The weird thing is that some programs (viewers mostly) show the image correctly but when opening it in a full fledged editor like Lightroom, they sometimes turn dark like they had some “auto editing” applied and Lightroom removed it. Funny thing is that it doesn’t always happen.

What you are likely seeing is the DJI processed jpeg preview file inside the DNG flash for a moment before the RAW file is rendered.

ChamberDrone, what color profile is being used for video? A video color profile shouldn't affect a DNG but on the original Mavic we saw that the DLOG profile did affect exposure levels.

Hello there ChamberDrone. I am sorry for the trouble this has caused and thank you for reaching out. Can you please post sample photo that shows the said issue for us to be able to see and assist you further? Thank you.

Ex Machina Posted at 7-21 17:32
What you are likely seeing is the DJI processed jpeg preview file inside the DNG flash for a moment before the RAW file is rendered.

I gotta say that is quite a plausible explanation

Ex Machina Posted at 7-21 17:32
What you are likely seeing is the DJI processed jpeg preview file inside the DNG flash for a moment before the RAW file is rendered.

ChamberDrone, what color profile is being used for video? A video color profile shouldn't affect a DNG but on the original Mavic we saw that the DLOG profile did affect exposure levels.

I was using flat profile

DJI Stephen Posted at 7-21 21:18
Hello there ChamberDrone. I am sorry for the trouble this has caused and thank you for reaching out. Can you please post sample photo that shows the said issue for us to be able to see and assist you further? Thank you.

This is the Jpeg


And this is the DNG File

This thread and at least one other have reported that RAW 48mp photos appeared underexposed. I decided to review a series of photos I had taken a while ago.  They were taken one after another, mid day under sunny conditions, auto mode in both 12mp and 48mp  and saved in jpeg and dng.  From the file info I found all the shutter speeds and ISOs (100) were the same.  Using  the "photos" program  all the photos looked exactly the same (including exposure) on a FHD computer screen. The photos included 12mp and 48mp both in jpeg and dng.

ChamberDrone Posted at 7-22 07:15
I was using flat profile

Might try a test using the standard color profile and then with the flat profile to see if that makes a difference.

Hello i ve exactly the same problem. Image in live view and jpeg are fine and well exposed but .Dng is very dark -3 exposure, it’s very annoying. I can’t see my files in lightroom and I must expose them. It happen less when I ve sky on the image. I m a photographer and I never be a problem like this before with my cameras.

Did you find a fix for this as mine has started do the same thing and dig files are underexposed and over saturated?

Did you ever figure this out? This just started happening to me yesterday after a year of shooting raw and using lightroom.  It’s incredibly frustrating and I have not been able to find the answer online even after finding multiple threads from people experiencing this.

same is happening to me. Does anyone know how to fix the problem?

Till this day my photos are still severely under exposed when shooting raw

My DGNs are severely underexposed.... to the tune of 4 stops (adjusting in LR adds a ton of noise / grain)... is only when set to PRO mode... (AUTO mode is ok) - and I don't have any EV compensation applied.  This is in 48MP mode too.  Any ideas?

Hi All,

Ive been having the same issue. I come back from shooting with the drone and there are lots of under exposed photos, to the point that they cannot be re-covered. It happens to the .DNG and the JPEG file. It does not happen with any the pano shots or the Smart Photo function. At home I launched the drone and went through all the photo function. For reference I have RAW+JPEG selected.
First Photo Single Shot in Auto both the JPEG and RAW file correctly exposed.
Second Shot 48MP Shot in Auto both the RAW file and the JPEG correctly exposed.
Third Photo SMART shot in Auto (note Pro is not an option in this mode so its greyed out) - JPEG file correctly exposed.
Fourth Photo Single Shot in Pro Mode both the JPEG and the RAW file way under exposed, the RAW darker than the JPEG. Note I did not make any adjustments as the live view looked correctly exposed!
Fifth Photo 48MP Shot in Pro Mode both JPEG and RAW file way over-exposed, photo completely blown out. Again I did not make any adjustments and note that the live view was also completely over exposed and blown out.

So my conclusion the under-exposed photos issue is being created in "Single Shot" in "Pro" Mode only. What I think everyone is doing is taking photos what they think is in "Auto" Mode when in reality they are in "Pro" Mode. For some strange reason the Live View does not show the live exposure in Single Shot Pro Mode, why this is DJI will have to explain or someone more lens tech savvy than myself.

So to mitigate this happening ensure if you want to shoot in AUTO mode it actually says "Auto" on the bottom right of the screen. I must have been thinking I had to press the "AUTO" soft button to enable AUTO mode where in fact I was in Pro mode and under-exposing all my shots.

Try it for yourself and let me know how you get on. Hope this is of help to those pulling their hair out with badly underexposed photos.


Update: further to this, I have just reset Camera settings in the menu and now the Live View is now showing the exposure correctly.

mavic 3 is also underexposing by 2 stops; soloution?   davethedroneguy.com

Ds67888 Posted at 3-20 11:39
mavic 3 is also underexposing by 2 stops; soloution?   davethedroneguy.com

Post a full-size, original jpg file ... you'll have to upload to dropbox or similar and post a link here.
I'll have a look in the metadata to see if it explains your issue.